"A Heart So White" by Javier Marías is a haunting and enigmatic story of family secrets and held emotions. Spanning two generations, and three eras of Spanish history, this enigmatic tale follows the secrets and secrets of one troubled family.
The story is set just after the death of the narrator's father, Juan. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Rodriguo, Juan's son, and a prominent lawyer, begins to uncover the truth about his father's life. In doing so, Rodriguo discovers that his father, and the family he grew up with, was not who he thought them to be.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, exploring the intertwined destinies of Rodrigo's parents and their complex relationships, as well as their own internal struggles. In addition to exploring Rodrigo's ancestors, the narrative delves into the lives of his extended relatives, as well as Rodrigo himself, as he comes to terms with his own family's past.
The story begins with the narrative of Leonardo, Juan's father. It follows the chaos in Madrid caused by the Spanish Civil War, as well as its aftermath. Through the testimonies of witnesses and participants, the situation in Madrid before, during, and after the war is explained. This account is framed by the struggle of the De Zaplana family with their own emotions and problems. We learn how their belief in the promises of the war can be misguided and ultimately lead to tragedy.
Meanwhile, in present day, Rodrigo is struggling to make sense of the truth about his parents. As he navigates his way through the family archive, Rodrigo discovers that his father had a passionate yet complicated relationship with a woman called Clara, in whom he confided many of his thoughts and secrets. But, as Rodrigo slowly unpacks the truth about Clara, it becomes evident that their relationship was far from fulfilling.
At the same time, Rodrigo attempts to understand the inner workings of his father's mind and heart, he finds himself having to come to terms with his own chivalric frustrations, something that his father had warned him about. As he continues to conceptualize the contradictory life of his father, Rodrigo comes across images of death and tragedy, a metaphor that engulfs the narrative and gives the title of the book, “A Heart So White”.
As the story unfolds, the lives of Rodrigo's extended family and ancestors begin to intertwine. We come to learn more of the story of Clara and her life after the war, the details of her tragic death, and the bizarre rituals that emerge in the shadows of the past.
A Heart So White is a powerful narrative that shows how the secrets and emotions held by one family can define its destiny for generations. Through its captivating and poetic depiction of family secrets, secrets that have been held from each other for so long, the novel is a captivating, often haunting work of literature. It transcends its subject matter, engaging on a psychological level and compelling its readers to confront the uncomfortable truths found within its pages.
